Welcome

Welcome to the POZ/AIDSmeds Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and
others concerned about HIV/AIDS. Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the
conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive
and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a
username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own
physician.

All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators
of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ/AIDSmeds community forums.

We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please
provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are
true and correct to their knowledge.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

This site is American based so I'm wondering if you local guys/girls ever meet face to face after talking on here. I dont post much cause most has been said but I do when I see a subject i relate to. I can never relate to internet chat like a face to face conversation so writing is like giving information and it does become about yourself. I guess I wouldn't say much if I was in a group of people in real life face to face and they were talking about themself so maybe that is why so many lerkers

We must remember that contributors to these boards are quite wonderful and diverse ranging geographically, culturally, ethnically, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, and a host of other categories that form a community just like any other, if one were to use the parlance. We are just a few clicks away in this virtual community instead of a few doors down. This is a great asset that impacts what you see written here.

As to the original question about why people may be afraid to post here, the reasons may be many with several clearly noted earlier by others and, in my opinion, quite true. Since this virtual community can only approximate the one where you would meet face-to-face, participants may be shy, put off, willing to say something already voiced by someone else but think that there is no need to repeat or simply wish to be a listener (reader--or lurker as I've read is the descriptor--in this case).

Also, it can be difficult to effectively translate to the the virtual the face-to-face dynamics of personal discussions given the absence of physical gestures, audio and visual cues and settings-- a challenge to put into writing. I believe that is one reason why we have those little emoticons to sort of massage the meanings of some posts. In addition, I also believe that this site is American based which may filter some of the intended meanings of posts as well.

And, in a virtual community, as in the physical world, there are different takes on the events and the experiences of life. Personally, I love the nuance, insights, snap, diverse opinions, moods and tones I see here. The discussions can often mirror an interesting gathering of friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and strangers--some you agree with and others you may not.

If you search my posts, you'll find that I have found great inspiration and life affirming motivation from this forum. I believe that there is also a direct correlation to a better quality of life and health (I have the labs to prove it!) as well because of the freedom of expression allowed here.

I don't drink or smoke. So my earlier post to this thread and others like it come from what my son calls my very droll--he looked the word up--sense of humor. I hope that when the occasion calls for it, I can switch tone and signal the proper intent as appropriate. To be quite frank, I simply marvel and am immensely grateful that I am still here after 24 years HIV+ with a generally good life, and can even make my way to a computer, boot it up and type in any tone and intent.

With reference to the discussions around who should be categorized as a long term HIV+ survivor. If we were to take heed of the predictions in the early days, many of us were supposed to be dead after six months to about two years. So anyone living longer than that puts nearly all of us in the "experienced" survivor category, in my humble opinion.

Finally, as my father used to say, "Lets chat-chat! Beat those gums!"(or fingers..)

Thank you all for the patience it took to read through my post (or rant...).

Take care.

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"He is my oldest child. The shy and retiring one over there with the Haitian headdress serving pescaíto frito."

That stuff is EVIL, it dries up my sinuses, and gives me a terrible Headache , then the next day, I feel like I was hit by a Mack-Truck, and left on the side on the road DEAD ....talk about a Hangover, Viagra will sure give you one in the worst way

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974